HOVERCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEM

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ericw740
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:02 am
Occupation: student
Project Question: Does the amount of outlet holes effect hovercraft stability?
Project Due Date: 2/26
Project Status: I am finished with my experiment and analyzing the data

HOVERCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEM

Post by ericw740 »

I NEED HELP FINDING SOMETHING TO MOVE MY HOVERCRAFT I HAVE A HOVERCRAFT BUT IT DOES NOT MOVE AROUND! IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS PLEASE POST!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric.W
raytrent
Former Expert
Posts: 214
Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2005 3:07 pm

Post by raytrent »

Depends on how fancy you want to get, but the typical answer is some variety of fan. I've heard that leaf-blowers are a reasonably affordable option, but really your problem is one of overall power, and any fan big enough to move a reasonable hovercraft is going to be somewhat expensive.

Of course, if you're just playing around with it, you could always use a pole and treat it like a gondola :-).
../ray\..
megaman
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:43 pm

Post by megaman »

the problem with leaf blowers is that you would need at least 2 to propel a hovercraft. also what type of surface are you going to be using this on
zzzzdoc
Former Expert
Posts: 238
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:28 pm

Post by zzzzdoc »

Mythbusters built a few, I believe with old vacuum cleaner motors and leaf blowers. Worked fine on smooth concrete in the shop, not as well on sand.

Try a vacuum cleaner repair shop. Might get a few motors very cheaply.
Alan Lichtenstein, MD
Anesthesiologist

Mens et manus
Veritas

He who laughs last...Thinks slowest.
ericw740
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:02 am
Occupation: student
Project Question: Does the amount of outlet holes effect hovercraft stability?
Project Due Date: 2/26
Project Status: I am finished with my experiment and analyzing the data

Post by ericw740 »

i already have a leaf blower but that just makes it hover i need something that will make it move around
Eric.W
zzzzdoc
Former Expert
Posts: 238
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:28 pm

Post by zzzzdoc »

ericw740 wrote:i already have a leaf blower but that just makes it hover i need something that will make it move around
Point a second one horizontally.

A repeat of that Mythbusters was just on. It will probably be repeated sometime this week. I saw three leaf blowers on one of their designs.
Alan Lichtenstein, MD
Anesthesiologist

Mens et manus
Veritas

He who laughs last...Thinks slowest.
ericw740
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:02 am
Occupation: student
Project Question: Does the amount of outlet holes effect hovercraft stability?
Project Due Date: 2/26
Project Status: I am finished with my experiment and analyzing the data

Post by ericw740 »

thanks! :wink: :D :) :shock:
Eric.W
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